Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham has drawn yet another fine from the WNBA, for comments made on her podcast, Show Me Something, regarding officiating in a recent game against the Dallas Wings. Cunningham suggested that rookie star Paige Bueckers received unusually favorable calls, saying that “you literally couldn’t touch her” without drawing a whistle. On this week's podcast, Cunningham said, “I’m officially three-for-three on being fined by the WNBA… They didn’t like my comments on Paige Bueckers.”
While Cunningham made clear she respects Bueckers and called her “a hell of a player,” the league responded with another financial penalty. This latest fine continues a season-long storyline for Sophie. She was previously fined for insinuating that the W’s referees are “stupid” and “useless” on TikTok, and again after describing officiating as “inconsistent” on her podcast.
Officiating concerns extend beyond Cunningham
But Cunningham is not the only one to raise concerns. Across the league, coaches and players have voiced frustration with inconsistent officiating. Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalia Nakase recently pointed to the lack of full-time referees as a major issue, noting that WNBA officials are contracted per game and often move on to NBA opportunities, leaving the league with less consistency in officiating talent.
Tragically, Cunningham’s outspoken season was cut short by a torn MCL suffered during a collision with Bria Hartley of the Connecticut Sun. The injury left Cunningham screaming in pain on the court and has ended her season, though the Fever confirmed she is expected to make a full recovery, and Cunningham confirmed on her podcast that she will undergo surgery this Friday.
In the aftermath, her family criticized the league for its priorities. Her sister Lindsey argued that the WNBA should focus less on fining players and more on hiring officials who protect the league's athletes.
.@WNBA maybe you should focus less on fining players for commenting on your poor officiating & more about hiring officials that are able to call a consistent game and protect your athletes. Pathetic. Praying for you .@sophaller 🙏🏼❤️
— Lindsey Cunningham (@Lbreezzyy) August 17, 2025
From a broader perspective, Cunningham’s situation reflects a league in transition. With stars like Paige Bueckers drawing more and more attention to the WNBA, the pressure on officiating has never been greater. Cunningham’s season may end with her sidelined, but her podcast will undoubtedly continue to spark conversation. The fines issued to Cunningham may be intended to protect the league’s image, but they also underscore a much deeper issue. Whether one agrees with her delivery or not, she continues to raise an important question the WNBA cannot ignore. Is its officiating infrastructure strong enough to match the league’s rapid growth?